Samson and Delilah

Set in the modern era, the story portrays present-day issues in Aboriginal communities, including petrol sniffing, economic hardship, and the tension between traditional life and urban opportunities. The actions shift between the outback and the urban environment of Alice Springs, highlighting how place and circumstance shape choices and survival.

The film takes place in a remote Aboriginal community in Central Australia, near Alice Springs. The arid desert landscape frames daily life, housing is cramped and resources limited, and community ties are both protective and fraught. Dot paintings made with Delilah and her grandmother reflect a resilient artistic tradition that intersects with a distant art market. The town of Alice Springs and the dry Todd River provide a backdrop for the characters’ attempts to escape and reconnect.

🏜️ Marginalization

The film foregrounds poverty and social marginalization in a remote Aboriginal community. Limited economic opportunities, housing strain, and social exclusion amplify the characters’ vulnerabilities and drive risky coping strategies.

💨 Addiction

Petrol sniffing is depicted as a desperate escape from hardship and grief. The addiction compounds Samson’s volatility and Delilah’s vulnerability, creating a cycle that challenges trust and care, while setting the stage for rehabilitation.

🌱 Resilience

Despite brutal circumstances, the bond between Samson and Delilah becomes a route to healing. Care, patience, and small acts of support push them toward a path of recovery and reassertion of their identities within the community.